Protests in Ukraine escalate

[Natalka]

(I think this is going on more than is reported, so sad...)

note - this is a translation of the report on Euromaidenpr's FB page

Terrorists abuse and rape captured young girls during ceasefire in East Ukraine

the journalist reports on a situation in eastern Ukraine where 2 young girls are stopped at a separatist check point. One is released because she has a Ukr passport & told for the parents of the other to come with her documents while she is detained.

The parents show up 15-20 min with papers in hand, only to be informed that the daughter will not be returned because she is "providing sexual service" for his fellow separatist militia.

Even during time of truce the separatist were non-negotiable for the release of the girl. The journalist basically says it had nothing to do with politics & calls them bandits.

[Natalka]

Kyiv, June 26 (Interfax-Ukraine) - A conflict broke out around the Ukrainian National Guard's military base No. 3004 in Donetsk on Thursday evening.

The base was approached by armed men in reconnaissance vehicles, who referred to themselves as the Kalmius group, the National Guard spokesperson said. They told the military "to leave the territory of the military base and go over to the separatists."

The National Guard troops defied their demands and are now reinforcing their positions, readying to counter a possible storming of the base.

According to the Web site of Donetsk Mayor Oleksandr Lukyanchenko, there is a large of number of armed men in camoue uniforms near the military base N. 3004 at 116 Schorsa Street.

"A storming is possible," the statement said. The city authorities have asked residents to be very careful, avoid conflict situations and, where possible, change their itineraries to bypass this area.

[Natalka]

Some good news -

Four observers from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe who were abducted on May 26 by pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine have been freed and have arrived at a hotel in Donetsk, a separatist leader said.


"They have been freed without conditions. They are a Dane, a Turk, a Swiss national and I believe an Estonian," said the "prime minister" of the self-proclaimed Republic of Donetsk, which has declared independence from the Kiev government after a disputed referendum.

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[Natalka]

Ukraine, EU sign historic trade and economic pact


Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko, center, poses with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, left, and European Council President Herman Van Rompuy, right, during an EU Summit in Brussels on Friday, June 27, 2014.

BRUSSELS, Belgium – Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Friday signed up to a trade and economic pact with the European Union, saying it may be the “most important day” for his country since it became independent from the Soviet Union.

It was the decision of his pro-Moscow predecessor, Viktor Yanukovych, to back out of the same EU association agreement in November that touched off massive protests in Ukraine that eventually led to Yanukovych’s flight abroad, Russia’s annexation of the Crimean Peninsula and the ongoing tensions between Russia and Ukraine.

At Friday’s proceedings, the European Union signed similar association agreements with two other former Soviet republics, Moldova and Georgia.


Businesses in the three countries whose goods and practices meet EU standards will be able to trade freely in any of the EU’s 28 member nations without tariffs or restrictions. Likewise, EU goods and services will be able to sell more easily and cheaply to businesses and consumers in Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova.


“It’s absolutely a new perspective for my country,” Poroshenko said.


Reminding EU leaders of the Ukrainians who died opposed Yanukovych’s government and in the ongoing battle against the pro-Russian insurgency in the country’s east, Poroshenko said Ukraine “paid the highest possible price to make her Europe dreams come true.”


He asked EU leaders to take a further step, and formally pledge that one day Ukraine will be able to join the EU as a full-fledged member. That “would cost the European Union nothing, but would mean the world to my country,” he said.

http://globalnews.ca/news/1419876/uk...economic-pact/

[Natalka]

Four Ukrainian servicemen killed in new fighting

KIEV (Reuters) - Four Ukrainian servicemen were killed and five wounded in an overnight attack by separatist fighters on a military post in the east of the country, a military analyst said on Friday.


Dmytro Tymchuk, who has good sources among government forces, said the rebels, backed by eight Russian tanks and firing mortar bombs, stormed a military base near Kramatorsk in one of several rebel attacks overnight.


"In return fire by government forces, one terrorist tank was destroyed and one tank captured," Tymchuk said on his Facebook page. "Four service personnel were killed, five wounded," he added.
He had no estimate of casualties on the rebel side. There was no immediate comment from the separatist fighters.


The attacks took place despite a week-long government ceasefire which is due to end at 10 p.m. (1900 GMT) and which Kiev says has been breached numerous times by the rebels over the past week.


In other fighting, Tymchuk said, rebels again attacked forces taking part in the government's "anti-terrorist operation" on a hill near the city of Slaviansk and one Ukrainian soldier was wounded by sniper fire.


Rebels also attacked a military base in the early hours at Artemivsk, using tank and other fire. Ukrainian forces repelled this attack without any casualties, he said.

http://af.reuters.com/article/worldN...0F20HC20140627

[Natalka]

The signing of the Economic part of the Association agreement with the EU was celebrated on Kyiv's Maidan on June 27. The anthems of Ukraine and EU were performed, and blue balloons golden stars were released into the sky.

It was when the Ukrainian Government suspended its preparations to sign the Association agreement with the EU that protesters started filling Maidan on November 21, 2013, and have not dispersed yet.





more pics - too big to post

http://mashable.com/2014/06/27/kiev-...WVjeXdndnRfIn0

[Natalka]

Kharkiv marks Constitution day

[Natalka]

Vyshyvanka (embroidered clothing) march in Odesa on Constitution Day, June 28







Wish the sound were better - you can hear them singing the anthem towards the end

[Natalka]

The ATO press officer Oleksiy Dmytrashkovskyi reports about a battle near Slovyansk today. 3 (three) ATO fighters were killed, 4 (four) wounded as a result of the terrorists firing upon them from the residential area in Semenivka.

As it was reported yesterday, the ceasefire plan is extended until June 30. This decision was made by President Poroshenko and the western diplomats. More than 20 (twenty) Ukrainian soldiers have been killed by the terrorists since the beginning of the ceasefire period.

[Natalka]

The Fifth Viche has started on Maidan. (community meeting)

[Natalka]

Constitution Day celebrated in Dnipropetrovsk. The Ukrainian national symbol, trident aka tryzub, is shown on the facade of the hotel "Parus"



The Mother Motherland statue in Kyiv tonight, as part of Constution Day festivities.

[Natalka]

A rally in Madrid today in support of Ukraine!

[Natalka]

This Sunday, June 29, a major ATO base on Mt. Karachun near Sloviansk experienced the most intense round of artillery fire. Terrorists started shooting at the base from mortars at 11 AM. The ATO forces fired in response and an artillery duel ensued. The enemy's fire was stopped a half hour after the start of the shootout. At least 6 Ukrainian soldiers were wounded.



I don't know if this is a school, daycare, community centre, or what - there is a big wall of kids' artwork.
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In Sloviansk terrorists set up artillery guns on vul. Urytskoho and shelled residential areas of the city. At least eight civilians have been killed. There are reports of a fighter plane being seen.

[Natalka]

( I deleted my prior post - correction below...)

Ukraine Ministry of Defense: Terrorists did not seize military equipment of the Air Defense unit of Ukraine Armed Forces in Donetsk.

Yesterday, June 29, media citing unofficial sources published information about terrorists seizing air defense systems of the Ukraine Armed Forces in Donetsk.

The press and information office of the Ukraine Ministry of Internal Affairs reports that on June 29, on the decision of the Air Forces Commander of Ukraine Armed Forces, the military servicemen and surface-to-air missile regiment in Donetsk were promptly relocated to a designated location. On the territory of the military unit remain only old and unusable military vehicles that were further disabled by the military. Subsequently, terrorists entered the territory of the military unit.

All combat vehicles of the military unit of Air Defense of Ukraine Armed Forces are in their designated locations and are on alert to defend the sovereignty of the state airspace.

[Natalka]

On June 30, around 150 people marched down the center of Tokyo in Ukrainian national vyshyvanka blouses. The march's participants, Ukrainians and citizens of other countries, supported Ukraine's unity and peace in Ukraine, shouting "Glory be to Ukraine, Glory be to her heroes" and carrying Ukrainian F-L-A-Gs







Oh, so beautiful!